The borough – along with Rochdale and Trafford – has seen a 40pc increase in homeless people the council accept are their responsibility – this does not include rough sleepers.

Council chiefs say that represents a relatively small number, stressing Stockport has one of the lowest rates of homelessness in Greater Manchester.

But the Wellspring homeless charity says its visitors have doubled from around 70 to 140 people a day – including a rise in white collar workers who have lost everything.

And they highlighted one man forced to live in a tent after being made redundant from his job.

Chris – not his real name – went from a comfortable middle class lifestyle to homelessness in just a few weeks. Last November he was living in a detached bungalow in leafy Cheadle Hulme.

But when he was made redundant from his job as a computer engineer his wife left – and everything fell apart.

He said: “I fell behind with the rent and then I got evicted and ended up in a tent in my mate’s back garden. You get in arrears and your life falls apart.”

Chris, 42, says after he refused a bed in a hostel – because he does not want to live with alcoholics or drug addicts – he was labelled ‘intentionally’ homeless.

He is now relying on charity – including the Wellspring and the British Legion – to get back on his feet.

He said: “I’m a good bloke and I’ve worked all my life. I want a job but it’s not viable when you have not got a postcode and you are living in a tent.

“You take years building up to get where you are and it just goes. I’m 42, but I feel a lot older.

“I’ve got the ball rolling, but it’s a big ball and it rolls slowly.

“It’s amazing how quickly your life can just go down the pan in just a few months.”

A spokesman for Stockport Homes said: “People sleeping rough are usually offered high quality temporary accommodation and support.

“If debts from a previous tenancy mean they cannot be permanently rehoused by the council or a housing association this support includes help to address these debts. If someone refuses temporary accommodation the team is still happy to provide this help, which can include the ‘HomeFinder’ scheme.

“This helps homeless people on low incomes to move into good quality accommodation by liaising with landlords on their behalf, underwriting a deposit and providing on-going support to maintain the tenancy.”